Hensall Water Storage Facility Replacement

Four stages of the Class Environmental Assessment (Class EA) planning process have been completed for the Hensall water tower project. The findings from the Class EA confirmed the water storage facility in Hensall is nearing the end of its service life and does not provide enough pressure to maintain efficient operation of the water system.

Construction of a new elevated water tower at the corner of Soldan and Mill Streets with a capacity of approximately 1,400 m³ and a top water level of 320.0 masl (meters above sea level) is about to begin.It will replace the existing tower located at Richmond Street N and Highway Four. Although the new water tower is not being built in the same location, it will service the same area as the existing tower. The project will include abandoning/demolishing the existing water tower following construction of the new water tower.

The project will be funded by the ICIP Green Stream and the Municipality. The total cost of the project is approximately $6.5 million, of which the Municipality will be contributing approximately $3.3 million. Through Council’s direction, funding will come from a combination of development charge funds, reserve funds and debenture contributions from residents.

The estimated completion date for the project is August 30, 2024.

Please continue to check our website and social media pages for updates.

What is a Class Environmental Assessment?

A Class EA is an approved planning document which describes the process that municipalities must follow to meet the requirements of the Environmental Assessment Act. Working through the steps of a Class EA helps municipalities find different solutions for projects that might have an impact on the environment. The process also includes mandatory requirements for municipalities to collect feedback from community members who might be affected by the project.

The Class EA planning process is divided into five phases:

• Phase 1: Problem identification 
• Phase 2: Evaluation of alternative solutions to the defined problems and selection of a preferred solution. 
• Phase 3: Identification and evaluation of alternative design concepts in selection of a preferred design concept. 
• Phase 4: Preparation and submission of an environmental study report (ESR) for public and government agency review. 
• Phase 5: Implementation of the preferred alternative and impact monitoring.